Chair and stretcher



Oct. 2, 1934. Q E, HALL 1,975,685

CHAIR AND STRETCHER Fi1ed.April 5O 1932 INVENTOR (gap/e5 TA/Q/Y ATTORNEY M more fully Patented Oct. 2, 1934 CHAIR AND STRETCHER Charles E. Hall, Birmingham, Ala..,

one-fourth to Clive G. Darden and assignor of one-fourth to William A. Darden, both of Ensley, Ala. Application April 30, 1932, Serial No. 608,502

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to chairs and one of the objects is to provide a novel and improved chair which is so constructed that it may tilt forwardly or rearwardly into substantially upright position or into different rearwardly inclined positions, according to the position assumed by the body of the occupant, the chair being substantially balanced in such different positions so that it may come to rest in any of such positions, thereby enabling the occupant to assume and maintain the most comfortable or restful position in the chair without requiring the exertion of any appreciable effort or any special adjustment of the chair, the chair being self-adjusting according to theposition assumed by the body of the occupant thereof.

Another object is to provide a chair of this character with means to normally limit the range of tilt or adjustment thereof but which means is retractible to permit complete folding of the chair into compact form suitablefor shipping or for storage or other purposes while not in use.

Another object is to provide a chair having a fabric or similar flexible strip to form the seat and back thereof, andmeans for securely but removably attaching the fabric to the chair so that it may be easily and quickly removed for laundering or changing when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination chair and stretcher, the construction being such that it may be easily and quickly converted from a chair into a stretcher which will be strong and non-collapsible while it is in condition for use.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter described, the features of novelty being pointed out particularly in the claims atthe end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chair showing it tilted into forward and rearward positions by the full lines respectively and showing the chair in folded condition by the dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a topplan view of the structure when converted into a stretcher;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing one of the latches ing of the chair; and

Fig. 6 shows the latch structure shown in Fig.

taken on the line on an enlarged scale, which control the fold- 5 as viewed from the right in said figure.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the diflerent figures.

The invention is latches being retractible to shown in the accompanying,

drawing as applied to a combination chair and stretcher, and comprising a base composed of a pair of laterally spaced rails l, the lower edges of which are preferably flat and parallel so that they will rest firmly on a floor or other support, a pair of laterally spaced front leg members 2, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to the inner sides of the base members 1 by pivots 3 which are located towardthe forward ends of the base members, and a pair of laterally spaced rear leg members 4 which straddle the leg members 2 and have their lower ends pivotally connected to the outer sides of the base members 1 near their rear ends by pivots 5,- the pivots 3 and 5 permitting the front and rear leg members to swing forwardly and rearwardly relatively to the base members. ,The upper ends of the legmembers 2 are rigidly connected by a cross member 6 which is secured to the rear sides of these memsides thereof, and the upper ends of the leg members 4 are rigidly connected by a cross member 7, these cross members 6 and 7 serving to support the back and seat portions of the chair, as will hereinafter appear.

When the structure is in use as a chair, the leg members 2 and 4 are in crossed relation above the base as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the leg members at the respective sides of the chair are connected by link members 8 the forward ends of which are pivotally connected to the inner sides of the leg members 4 by the pivots 9 and the rear ends of which are-pivotally connected to the outer sides of the leg members 2 by the pivots 10. The portions of the legs 2 and 4 which are in crossed relation are free or unconnected to one another permitting such forward and rearward swinging movements of the leg members while maintaining the leg members in proper angular relation, as shown by the full and dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2.

Means is provided for limiting the forward and rearward swing of the leg members, such means comprising a cross member 11 which is fined to the forward sides of the leg members gneartheir lower ends and in a position to be engaged by the rear leg members 4 as the latter swing forwardly and thereby limit the forward swing of both leg members, as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, and a pair of latches 12 are provided for limiting the rearward swing of the leg members, as shown by the'iull lines in Fig. 2, these permit further rearward swing of the leg members into folded relation with the base as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. Each of the latches 12 comprises preferably a metal or other plate which is pivoted on the respective leg member 2 by a screw or other suitable pivot 13, each plate having a pawl-like extension 14 which is movable into or out of the plane of the respective leg member 4 when the plate is swung about the screw 13 as a center, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 5, one side of this pawl-like extension being preferably bevelled as shown so that it may latch idly past the respective'leg member 4-while the leg members are being swung from 'folded position into position to serve as legs of the chair, and after the leg members have been brought into this position, each latch is adapted to engage firmly against the rear side of the respective leg member 4. Each latch is supported while in operative engagement with the respective leg member 4 by a down turned flange 15 thereon which is arranged to abut against the outer side of the respective leg member 2 and by a down turned lug 16 which is arranged to abut against the inner side of the leg member 2. Each latch is preferably provided with a spring 1'7 for automatically swinging it into operative position behind the respective leg'member 4 and for maintaining it in such position until released, the spring as shown in the present instance having its intermediate portion coiled about the screw 13 and having one end embedded or driven into the respective leg 2 and having its other end arranged to bear on the flange 15 and act thereon to yieldingly swing the latch into operative. position as shown by the full lines in Fig. 5. Normally, the latches 12 will proj'ect laterally beyond the outer sides of the leg members 2 and into the paths of the respective leg members 4 so that these latches in conjunction with the cross member 11 will constitute limit stops between which the leg members 4 may swing between the limits indicated by the full and dotand-dash lines in Fig. 2, the swing of the leg members 2 being correspondingly limited by rea son of their connections with the leg members 4 by the link members 8, but by pressing the latches 12 inwardly or into the retracted position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, where they will clear the paths of the respective leg members 4, the leg members 2and 4 may be swung,.'urther rearwardly into folded relation with thegbase as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2."

The pivots 10 by which the link members 8 are connected to the leg members 2 are located more distantly from the pivots 3 by which the leg members 2 are connected to the base members than are the pivots 5 by which the leg members 4 are connected to the base members, so that when the leg members are swung into folded relation with the base members, the pivots 10 will assume positions rearwardly beyond the pivots 5, and the link members 8 are of such a length and their pivots 9 are located at such points on the leg members 4 that when the leg'members are swung into collapsed relation with the base members, the leg members and also the link members 8 will all assume positions in parallelism with one another and with the base members. The base members 1 are provided with rearward extensions 18 of reduced height against which the ends of the link members 8 adjacent to their pivots 10 are adapted to rest when the leg members are brought into folded relation with the base members, the link members 8 being in the planes of the respective base members 1, and such engagement of the link members with these extensions on the base members will prevent further folding movement of the leg members relatively to the base members and will thus render the legs and base members rigid or non-collapsible in one direction. The other or forward ends of the base members are preferably provided with reduced extensions 19 which may serve as handles while the structure is in the form of a stretcher.

The seat and back portions of the chair are formed preferably of a strip 20 of canvas or other suitable flexible fabric or other material, and according to the present invention this strip is readily removable for laundering, changing or other purpose and is also adjustable so that it may serve as the seat and back of a chair or as the body supporting part of a stretcher. In the preferred construction shown, the ends of this strip are folded and stitched to form hems 21 of tubular form, and the cross members 6 and '7 are formed with transverse slots 22 and 23 through which the respective hems 21 on the strip may be inserted, this being accomplished by flattening the hems, and the hemmed ends of the strip 20 are secured to the cross members 6 and 7 by rods 24 and 25 which are inserted into the respective hems which are of tubular form so that they will receive these rods, it being understood that these rods have a diameter greater than the width of the slots 22 and 23 so that when they are inserted into the hems, pulling of the hemmed ends of the strip through the slots in the cross members 6 and 7 is prevented by these rods, although removal of the strip 20 may be accomplished easily and quickly by simply withdrawing the rods from the hemmed ends thereof and then withdrawing the hemmed ends of said strip from the slots in the cross members 6 and '7.

While the structure is in use as a chair, the flexible fabric or other strip 20 extends loosely between the cross members 6 and 7, its upper end being secured by the rod 24 inserted at the rear of the cross member 6 and its lower end being secured by the rod 25 inserted at the underside of the cross member 7, the strip 20 lying between the laterally spaced pairs of leg members 2 and 4 and providing the seat and back portions of the chair, and the leg members are extended upwardly in crossed relation above the base, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The leg members 4 at this time will lie between the outwardly projecting ends of the cross member 11 and the outwardly swung latches 12 on the leg members 2 so that both pairs of leg members may swing forwardly and rearwardly on the base on the respective centers 3 and 5, and the range of swinging motion of the leg members 4 and, in consequence, of the leg members 2 which are connected thereto by the link members 8, is controlled by the cross member 11 and latches 12. This swinging motion of the leg members enables them to assume any position within the limits described, automatically, according to the position assumed by the body of the occupant of the chair, and since the leg members will be in a substantially balanced condition while in either the rearward or forward position indicated by the full and dot-and-dash lines respectively in Fig. 2 or in any intermediate position, due to the crossed relationship of the legs and their freedom to shift relatively to each other where they cross, the chair will adjust itself to any position assumed by the body of the occu pant thereof and will remain in such position without strain or exertion on the part of the occupant. While the chair is in this condition it may, if desired, be used as a rocking chair, the leg members rocking forwardly and rearwardly about the pivots 3 and 5 on the base. The link members 8 which connect the leg members above their crossed portions and which maintain the upper portions of the leg members in proper angular relation to bring the seat and back portions of the chair in proper positions, may be used as side; arms for the chair.

Folding of the chair for shipping or for storage or for other purposes when not in use is accomplished by swinging the latches 12 inwardly out of the paths of the leg members 4 and then swinging these leg members and also the leg members 2 rearwardly from the position shown by the full lines in Fig. 2 to that shown by the dotted lines in that figure. As the two pairs of leg members'swing rearwardly toward folded relationship with the base, the pivots--10 for the link members 8 assume positions in rear of the pivots 5 for the legs 4 and the leg members 2 and 4 come into parallelism so that they extend rearwardly from the base, the link members 8 also coming into parallelism with the leg members and nesting between them, as shown in Fig. 3. When the chair is to be used after being folded, it is only necessary to swing the leg members upwardly and forwardly relatively to the base, the leg members 4 automatically deflecting inwardly and passing the latches 12 after which the latter automatically swing outwardly into positions behind the leg members 4 so that they will prevent swinging of the chair rearwardly beyond the position shown by the full lines inFig. 2. 7

When the structure is to be used as a stretcher, it is folded in the manner described above, then inverted, and the rod 24 is withdrawn, the end of the strip 20 which was secured by said rod to the cross member 6 is withdrawn from the slot 22 in said cross member, and the strip'20 is extended from the cross member '7 to which it is still secured, over the cross member 6 and over the cross member 11 to the forward edge of the latter, and

the rod 24 is then re-inserted into the hem on this end of the strip so project outwardly beneath the rails 1 comprising the base, the strip 20 then providing a support which extends longitudinally of the structure in the space between the legs and base rails on which the body of a person may rest. The extensions 19 on the forward ends of the base rails 1 may then serve as carrying handles at one end of the stretcher and the ends of the legs 4 may serve as carrying handles for the opposite end thereof. The inversion of the structure for use as a stretcher, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, causes the rearward extensions 18 of the base rails to rest on the link members 8 near their pivots 10 which connect them to the leg members 2, and the leg members 2 rest toward their free ends on the cross member '7 secured to the leg members 4 and also the ends of the cross member 6 on the leg members 2, which project beyond the sides thereof, rest on the upper edges of .the leg members 4, so that the structure will be rigid and will firmly sustain, a weight imposed upon it while it is supported or carried by its ends and accidental collapsing of the structure while in use as a stretcher is avoided, the strip 20 extending over the cross member 6 on the legs 2 and thereby retaining these legs and the legs 4 in parallelism.

a chair, it is only necessary To restore the structure to condition for use as to withdraw the rod 24, insert the respective end of the strip 20 through the slot 22 in the cross member 6 and that the ends of this rod;

secure it by re-insertion of the rod 24, and to swing the legs upwardly above the base until the legs 4 pass the latches 12.

I claim as my invention:

1. A chair comprising a base, front and rear leg members pivotally connected at their lower ends to the base to swing forwardly and rearwardly thereon and also into folded relation therewith, said leg members being crossed above the base but having their crossed portions unconnected and free to shift relatively, a link member pivotally connected to the leg'members above theircrossed portions and determining the angular relationship of the'leg members, and a latch member movably mounted on one of the leg members to move laterally thereof to and from a position in the path of swing of the other leg member and having means for supporting it in said position and spring means tending to move it into said position, said latch member being provide'd with a cam portion whereby it is 'movable out of said position by its engagement with said other leg member as the leg members are swung forwardly into operative position and said spring means operating automatically to .move said latch member into said position when ing a base embodying a pair. of side members having extensions of relatively reduced height at their front and rear ends, pairs of front and rear leg members having ends thereof pivotally connected to the respective side members of the base toward the front and rear ends thereof but between the extensions thereon, transverse seat and back supporting members connecting the pairs of leg members adjacent to the ends of said leg members remote from the base, a cross member connecting the front leg members adjacent to the base, link members pivotally connecting the front and rear leg members and operative to bring said leg members into crossed relation when the latter are swung away from the base and into parallel relation when swung against the base, said links being arranged in the same planes with .the respective side members of the base and connected to the front leg members at points at a less distance from the pivotal connections of the front leg members to the side members of the base than the distance of the rear ends of the side members of the base from said pivotal connections of the front leg members to the side members of the base so as to abut against the extensions at the rear ends of said side members of the base when the front and rear leg members are swung against the base, the extensions at the forward ends of the side members of the base projecting beyond the front leg members when the latter are swung against the base, a flexible strip attached at one end to the transverse seat supporting member, and means for detachably connecting the other end of said flexible strip selectively to the transverse back supporting member or to said cross member.

CHARLES E. HALL. 

